Where to taste Merlot in Umbria: the estates that grow it, how the region expresses the grape, and how to book a visit.

Merlot estates in Umbria

Arnaldo Caprai ★ 4.8

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, Montefalco Rosso DOC, Colli Martani Grechetto DOCSagrantino, Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grechetto, Chardonnay, Trebbiano Spoletino136 haFounded 1971Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG

Founded in 1971 at the foot of Montefalco, the estate that pushed Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG toward international recognition, with Michel Rolland consulting on the cellar programme.

Tasting: Vertical tastings, guided vineyard tours, cellar visits and tailor-made experiences by reservation.

Tip: The 25 Anni bottling marks the estate's anniversary vintage, a dry Sagrantino built for extended cellar ageing.

Localita Torre 1, 06036 Montefalco PG, Italy Book →

Adanti ★ 4.1

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, Montefalco Rosso DOCSagrantino, Grechetto, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sangiovese20 haSagrantino di Montefalco DOCG

Family estate at Arquata near Bevagna farming about 20 hectares of a 30-hectare property, producing Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG alongside Grechetto and a handful of international varieties.

Tasting: Estate visits Monday to Saturday, 9:30-12:30 and 14:30-18:00, closed Sunday; booking via the estate's experiences page.

Tip: Visit hours run to 18:00 on weekdays; Sunday needs advance booking.

Via Belvedere 2, Localita Arquata, 06031 Bevagna PG, Italy Book →

Goretti (Le Mura Saracene) ★ 4.0

Colli Perugini DOC, Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, Montefalco Rosso DOCSagrantino, Sangiovese, Merlot, CiliegioloColli Perugini DOC

Four-generation Perugia family producer with two sites: a Colli Perugini DOC home estate at Pila and a Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG vineyard trading as Le Mura Saracene.

Tasting: Tours and tastings at the Pila (Perugia) home estate; the Montefalco vineyard trades under the Le Mura Saracene label.

Tip: L'Arringatore is a Sangiovese-Merlot-Ciliegiolo blend from the Colli Perugini home estate.

Strada del Pino 4, Pila, 06132 Perugia PG, Italy Book →

Cesarini Sartori ★ 3.9

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, Umbria DOC/DOCG blendsSagrantino, Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon30 haCesarini Sartori family (Luciano and Giuseppe Cesarini, Fiorella Sartori)Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG

A career-change estate started in the late 1990s by the Cesarini Sartori family at Torri di Barattano near Gualdo Cattaneo, farming 30 hectares of Sagrantino, Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tasting: Contact the estate, operated as Aliara Vini Societa Agricola, to arrange a visit.

Tip: The estate trades under the legal name Aliara Vini Societa Agricola.

Localita Purgatorio, Torri di Barattano, 06035 Gualdo Cattaneo PG, Italy Book →

Palazzone Vignarco Rosso ★ 4.0

Umbria Rosso IGTSangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotEUR 11 to 13 retailstill-red

Vignarco Rosso blends Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, fermented on the skins in steel with manual punch-downs before a partial run through oak, Palazzone's entry red below its Orvieto whites' price tier.

Tip: Screw-capped and built for early drinking, this is the bottle to open on a weeknight rather than cellar.

Merlot in other regions →

All Umbria vineyards →